Compact low-impedance tubular valve



Oct. 11, 1960 c. B. SIGHTS 2,955,798

COMPACT LOW-IMPEDANCE TUBULAR VALVE Original Filed Oct. 6. 1951 3 1/zmzm 4 I L 21 1+ 3 I 37 27 {:3 f} 29 37 f 39 2s 13 31 9 l 15 57 39 35 Jv 3 Fig.2

17 3 20 1 j F Fig. 5 Q 5 NVENTOR:

Charles B. igl ts,

United States Patent 2,955,798 COMPACT LOW-IMPEDAN CE TUBULAR VALVECharles B. Sights, 2814 22nd Ave. 5., Nashville, Tenn.

Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 250,138, ?c3t.167,51951.This application July 31, 1958, Ser. No.

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-212) This invention relates to a compact low-impedancetubular valve.

This application is a refiling of application 250,138, Oct. 6, 1951, nowabandoned.

Generally speaking valves should (1) be easily and quickly operablebetween a fully closed position and a low-impedance or full-flow openposition in which there is minimal constriction or impedance of thefluid stream, but at the same time should (2) be of small, simple,durable, yet inexpensive construction. Valves of the prior art have notbeen able to satisfy both sets of desiderata, but rather have usuallybeen able to obtain the advantages of one set only at a sacrifice ofthose of the other.

The disclosed invention combines both sets of advantages to a degree notpossible with prior-art valves.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a full-flowvalve which is at the same time compact and streamlined.

It is a further object to provide a full-flow valve which is of simple,durable, yet inexpensive, construction.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a full-flowvalve of tubular construction which is not of appreciably greaterdiameter than the conduit it valves, and which is operable by a sleeveclosely and rotatably surrounding itself.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and in which like reference numerals designate like partsthruout the several views:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the valve in a typical installation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational axial cross-sectional view of theinstallation of Fig. 1, the valve being open.

Fig. 3 is a view like that of Fig. 2 but showing only the valve elementsproper, with said elements in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view in section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the tapered valve jaws.

With reference now to the drawings, which disclose a preferred form ofthe invention, the numeral 1 designates the valve-chamber-formingmember. This chamber member has a reduced-diameter internally threadedstandard connector 5 carried by the conduit or .pipe 7 by which thevalve is connected to or in a fluid system. The pipe 7 and thereduced-diameter portion 3 of the chamber member 1 preferably have thesame internal diameter. An extension tube or pipe 9 of the same diameteris threadedly connected to the lower end 4 of the chamber member 1 (butobviously could be formed integrally therewith), the conduits of saidparts 1, 7 and 9 being alined co-axially. The lower end of tube 9 isthreaded at 11 for connection to part 13 of another conduit section 15similar to part 7.

The chamber in the member 1 is conically tapered as 2,955,798 PatentedOct. 11, 1960 shown in Figs. 2 and 3, having a relatively smoothaccurately machined surface against which a plurality of conduit-closingjaw members 17 seat. The jaw members 17 in their conduit-closingposition (Fig. 3) form a truncated cone having the same taper as theconical chamber in the member 1. The jaws 17 are urged toward theexpanded or open-valve position of Figs. 2 and 4 by coiled compressionsprings 19. The jaws 17 are movable to the valve-closing position ofFig. 3 by a ring 21 hearing against their bottom surfaces.

The ring 21 is vertically movable by a pair of arms 23, which extendinto the tube 9 and have outwardly extending fingers 25 on their lowerends. The arms 23 are resilient whereby they may be sprung toward eachother enough to permit the outwardly bent fingers 25 to enter the upperend of tube 9 for passage therethru until they reach diametricallyopposite and longitudinally extending slots 27 in tube 9. The fingers 25extend outwardly thnl these slots 27 and enter a helical groove orinternal thread 29 in the sleeve 31, which surrounds the central portionof tube 9 sufliciently loosely for co-axial rotation therearound. Thesleeve 31 is provided with a friction-grip surface, by being knurled(33, Fig. 1) or by having an added covering of rubber, leather, cloth,etc. (not shown).

To prevent leakage of fluid from tube 9 thru slots 27 and thenceoutwardly between tube 9 and sleeve 31 to the outside of the valve,there is provided at each end of the sleeve 31 a sealing ring-gasket 35of leather, silicone rubber, or other suitable resilient material. Thegaskets 35 are compressed against the ends of the sleeve 31 and againstthe outer surface of the tube 9 by ferrules 37 threadedly and thusadjustably connected to the ends of sleeve 31.

The rotatable sleeve 31 is provided with thrust bearings 39 to preventits longitudinal displacement along the tube 9. For purpose ofillustration only, these bearings 39 have been shown as a series ofballs riding in circular grooves in the opposed end surfaces of theferrules 37 and of the end 4 of chamber 1 and the end of portion 13 ofconduit section 15.

In use the valve may be connected for fluid flow in either direction. Inone direction the fluid pressure will assist in opening the valve, whilein the other it will assist the closing action.

It is desired to point out that for large valves of this type, forexample, those having internal diameters of 3 to 6 inches or more, itmay be desirable to add a detachable (or permanently attached) handle orhandles (not shown) radially extending outwardly to supply the leveragenecessary fo-r easy turning against the friction between the gaskets 35and tube 9.

While I have disclosed a preferred form in which my invention may bereduced to practice, it is to be understood that many changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of the parts, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, as defined by the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A low impedance tubular valve adapted for insertion co-axially in afluid line, comprising: a conduit member having a conical valve chambertherein; a plurality of sector-shaped jaw elements disposed within, andabout the axis of, said valve chamber, means for moving said jawelements radially outwardly and axially of said conduit member to opensaid valve, said jaw elements being also movable together to form aconical plug to completely close the fluid passage thru said valvechamber; means longitudinally movable within said conduit member forcontrolling the valve-opening movement of said jaw elements and also formoving them to valve-closing r 3 V 4 1 r position; and sleeve meanssurrounding, mounted on, from said longitudinallymovaBlemeafisfhiua'longituand rotatable around the exterior of said conduit memdinal slotsaid conduit member,

for ma ling the same,- said valve being free of lateral V ReferencesCited in the file of this patent protubrances and having allover-alldiameter not sub- 5 UNITED STATES E T V V stantia'lly greaterithanthatof said conduit, saidsleeve: 674,971 Ki man May 28, 1901 meanshaving ra'lielical groove on its inner surface for 2,016,998 Hartke Oct.8,4935

engagement with: at least' one protuberance extending 2,693,338 GruntNov. 2, 1954

